Charlie and the Chocolate Factory [drama review]

George, Richard R. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Dramatic Publishing, 1976. ISBN 0-87129265-3. 48 pp. B- 4+Reviewed by Allison G. Belnap Willy Wonka has inserted five golden tickets inside the wrappers of five of his delicious chocolate bars that have been distributed across the country. Those who find the tickets will spend a day with Mr. Wonka himself at his mysterious chocolate factory. Against all odds, an impoverished boy named Charlie finds a ticket. He and his grandfather join a group of selfish, snobby, spoiled children on a fantastic tour of the outlandish factory. One by one the children disappear: one is whisked away by a chocolate river, another is dumped into the rubbish bin as a bad nut, another swells into a giant blueberry and is rolled away to be juiced, and the other is carted off to be stretched after being formed into a miniature child. Finally, only Charlie is left. Wonka reveals that the tour has been a test and that Charlie, by being the only one left, has passed and will inherit the chocolate factory as his reward, supplying Charlie and his family with lifelong security and happiness-not to mention chocolate. This particular adaptation arose from a class project directed by George. Though the play follows the story well, much of the dialogue is tired and predictable. George includes suggestions for staging and props, including a technique for making the Oompa-loompas, tour boat, machines, and other set pieces and props out of cardboard. The play includes twenty-plus characters and is clearly intended to be produced as a class project by young people.

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George, Richard R. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Dramatic Publishing, 1976. ISBN 0-87129265-3. 48 pp. B- 4+Reviewed by Allison G. Belnap Willy Wonka has inserted five golden tickets inside the wrappers of five of his delicious chocolate bars that have been distributed across the country. Those who find the tickets will spend a day with Mr. Wonka himself at his mysterious chocolate factory. Against all odds, an impoverished boy named Charlie finds a ticket. He and his grandfather join a group of selfish, snobby, spoiled children on a fantastic tour of the outlandish factory. One by one the children disappear: one is whisked away by a chocolate river, another is dumped into the rubbish bin as a bad nut, another swells into a giant blueberry and is rolled away to be juiced, and the other is carted off to be stretched after being formed into a miniature child. Finally, only Charlie is left. Wonka reveals that the tour has been a test and that Charlie, by being the only one left, has passed and will inherit the chocolate factory as his reward, supplying Charlie and his family with lifelong security and happiness-not to mention chocolate. This particular adaptation arose from a class project directed by George. Though the play follows the story well, much of the dialogue is tired and predictable. George includes suggestions for staging and props, including a technique for making the Oompa-loompas, tour boat, machines, and other set pieces and props out of cardboard. The play includes twenty-plus characters and is clearly intended to be produced as a class project by young people.

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